A good meeting starts with a good agenda. In strata and community schemes especially if you’re self-managed the agenda is your map. Without one, meetings can meander, tempers can flare, and you’ll probably forget the thing you actually needed to decide.

If you own a unit, townhouse in a strata scheme or a lot in a community association, you’ve probably heard about the statutory meetings but they can feel a bit formal or confusing. Don’t worry! These meetings are simply where owners come together to make decisions about how the property is run. Getting involved is important because your vote shapes how your community looks and functions.

Meetings are where the most important decisions about your building are made from approving budgets and levies, to tackling repairs, upgrades, and by-laws. Yet for many owners, these meetings can feel daunting. Who gets to speak? When can you ask a question? And what if the chairperson tells you to keep quiet?

With a little planning, a clear agenda, and a good grasp of your legal obligations, you can run a smooth, productive meeting that sets your scheme up for success.

If you’ve been appointed Chairperson of your committee (or stepping in to chair a meeting), congratulations and don’t panic.  

Chairing a strata or community association meeting doesn’t require legal training or a big booming voice. It simply takes preparation, a fair approach, and an understanding of how strata an community meetings work. 

This beginner’s guide will walk you through your responsibilities and provide a handy checklist to help you run your first meeting smoothly and confidently. 

In strata and community schemes, meetings are where decisions get made but not all meetings are created equal. Two of the most common are committee meetings and general meetings. They sound similar, but they serve different purposes, involve different people, and follow different rules. 

Strata and community title living is an increasingly popular choice across Australia, offering shared amenities, maintained common areas, and a built-in sense of community. However, behind the scenes of every well-run strata or community scheme lies a framework of clearly defined roles and responsibilities. Understanding who does what is essential for smooth operation, effective decision-making, and harmonious living. 

Well-run meetings are the key to keeping your building running smoothly. But sometimes, one owner can unintentionally (or not) make life harder by consistently submitting lots of motions, some of which have already been dealt with, or are minor and unnecessary…

Whether you’re in a high-rise strata, a cosy townhouse complex, or a sprawling community title estate, the AGM is more than just a legal hoop to jump through it’s the big decision-making day for your scheme.

Changing managers can feel like a big task, but it doesn’t need to be stressful. With good planning and cooperation, the transition can be smooth and beneficial for the community.

Living in a two-lot strata scheme can be simple until you hit a roadblock trying to make a decision. The good news? With a little planning and good communication, it’s possible to keep things smooth and stress-free.  

Here are 5 easy ways to avoid conflicts: 

(A fast, fuss-free guide to meeting records for strata and community schemes) 

Taking minutes doesn’t need to be a headache or take all night. Whether you’re in a self-managed strata or community scheme, or just an active committee who undertake their own meetings, the aim is simple: record what was decided and who will do it. That’s it. Minutes are not a novel; they’re a record. 

General meetings are where big decisions get made, budgets, by-laws, repairs, and even litigation. If there’s something you want the scheme to decide on, the way to make it happen is by putting forward a motion….

Once upon a time, if you wanted to attend a strata meeting, it meant hauling yourself at 6:30 pm on a wet Tuesday night into a community hall, library room, or down in the basement carpark (with you skipping back and forth to keep the sensor light on). Then came COVID-19, Zoom, Teams, Skype and the age of virtual everything. But what about strata meetings? Can you legally meet online? And are the rules the same in every state? 

Running a strata scheme involves many decisions from approving budgets to authorising repairs or updating by-laws. These decisions are usually made through voting at general meetings or by written/electronic ballot. But here’s the catch: if the voting process isn’t handled properly….

If you own an apartment, townhouse, or villa in a strata scheme, chances are you’ve heard whispers about the infamous strata meeting. Maybe you’ve even received a politely worded notice inviting (or is it summoning?) you to an Annual General Meeting (AGM).  

The ultimate guide for strata, community, and company title leaders who want order… and maybe even smiles. 

So, you’ve drawn the short straw (or bravely volunteered) to chair the meeting. Congratulations! You now hold the gavel of power… or, more realistically, the pen you’ll tap on the table to get everyone’s attention. Chairing a meeting doesn’t have to feel like herding cats. With the right approach, you can run a meeting that’s productive, on time, and (dare we say) enjoyable. 

Let’s be honest: receiving a strata meeting notice doesn’t exactly spark joy. For many of us, it’s right up there with tax return instructions and assembling flat-pack furniture. But before you glaze over and bury it under a pile of takeaway menus or delete into your email bin, give it a second look. That notice holds more power than you think it tells you when big (and small) decisions about your building will be made, and whether your voice gets heard or drowned out. 

Running a self-managed scheme is a great way to save on management fees and stay directly involved in how your building is run. But with that independence comes responsibility especially when it comes to keeping proper records. 

Good record-keeping isn’t just a legal requirement under strata and community scheme laws in every Australian state and territory it’s also your best defence against disputes, confusion, and headaches down the track. 

Here’s a simple guide for small, self-managed schemes. 

Ready to make sense of how strata committees work? Whether you’re thinking about getting involved or just want to know who’s handling your building’s decisions, here’s what you need to know in a simple format.